From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how +‎ ever.

• (RP) IPA: /hɑʊˈɛvə/
• (America) enPR: houĕvʹər, IPA: /haʊˈɛvɚ/
• (New York City) IPA: /hɑˈwɛvə(ɹ)/

however (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive) Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that.

   He told me not to do it. However, I did it anyway. / I did it anyway, however. / I, however, did it anyway.

   She wanted to go; however, she decided against it.

   I didn't argue with him; I still think, however, that he is wrong.

   • 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC ↗:

     Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC ↗:

     That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.

2. (conjunctive) In contrast.

   The conference itself went very well. The party afterwards, however, was a disaster.

3. (degree) To whatever degree or extent.

   However clear you think you've been, many questions will remain.

4. (informal, manner) In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way.

   I don't care; just do it however.

   Nothing was really planned; things just happened however.

5. (interrogative) How ever: an emphatic form of how, used to ask in what manner.

   I thought it was impossible. However were you able to do it?

6. (obsolete) In any case, at any rate, at all events.
   • c. 1680, John Tillotson:

     Our chief end and highest interest is happiness : And this is happiness to be freed from all (if it may) [or] however from the greatest evils.

• (nevertheless) nonetheless, notwithstanding, that said, still and all; in any case, after all, anyway; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless and Thesaurus:regardless
• (to whatever degree) ad lib, howsoever, howso
• (regardless of the way in which) anyhow, howsoever, howso
• (emphatic how) how + the dickens (see Thesaurus:the dickens)

• French: cependant, pourtant, néanmoins, toutefois, nonobstant
• German: jedoch, allerdings
• Italian: però, nonostante, tuttavia
• Portuguese: no entanto, entretanto
• Russian: одна́ко
• Spanish: sin embargo, no obstante, mas

• French: peu importe
• German: egal wie

1. Regardless of the way in which.

   Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes.

   However we do this, it isn't going to work.

2. In any way in which.

   She offered to help however she could.

   Wear your hair however you want.

3. (proscribed) But, yet, though, although.

   *She wanted to go, however she decided against it. (proscribed)